RECORD STORE DAY 2011

Friday, September 13, 2013

As we approach our 5 year anniversary (holy crap, doo!) a lot is being planned to give back to everyone who has supported us, helped us in anyway, shape or form, didn't screw us over and get all weird with us, and mostly...never forgot about us. A fire couldn't stop us, more powerful retail outlets capitalizing on our true love won;'t stop us...and for that, we have you to thank. Patience while we figured it all out, learned how the game is played while sticking to our ethos. More on that soon.

Ok, let's talk incoming stock, shall we? 2 posts in a week? Someone has nothing to do with their life. We will also begin working in our flagship radioshow-- now known as SCRATCH-N-SNIFF RADIO. It airs every saturday (well, most saturdays) at 10 p.m. to midnight. Click that link and you'll uncover tons of playlists from the last...well, a long time.

Those two turntables are only used by a few dj's these days...more often,students are eating lunch off them, or wondering what the fuck they are! Saturdays feature long-running 80's fanatic Robin "squid explosion" Connell and indie wildman Brian "ski" K. In their wake, I, sometimes joined by Chuck "termbo" Barrels or JD or whoever doesn't have plans that saturday night. We try to play what we love...oldies and new stuff we want you to know about.

Let's get to some new stuff, eh?

DIRTBOMBS - ooey gooey chewy ka-blooey! Another adventourous foray into the world of rock and roll genius, Mick Collins. In addition to the plethora of Dirtbombs albums, Collins has paid tribute to soulful...well, soul and rock and roll via ULTRAGLIDE IN BLACK and most recently, Detroit House Music wih the adventerous PARTY STORE triple. Here, Collins does not cover songs in fuzzy Dirtombs tradition, rather Mick Collins wrote ten new tracks which pay homage to the sound and
style originally popularized in the late ’60s / early ’70s by producers /
exploiters like Kasenetz-Katz and Don Kirschner. While the usual
Dirtbombs’ double-drums, fuzzy guitars and soulful swagger are present,
Ooey Gooey is sugary, sunshiny pop rock that recalls Josie & the
Pussycats, the Banana Splits and Lancelot Link & the Evolution
Revolution, to name but three. It’s all sing-along choruses, childlike
themes and a contrived innocence—not the kind of record one would’ve
predicted from a guy who once fronted The Gories. Top notch.

OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL - BLACK FOLIAGE/MUSIC FROM THE UNREALIZED FILM...
Two limited double lp's featuring hard to find material from OTC, wonderfully packaged and apparently limited to 1000 copies each. Though these originally came out 2 years ago, we are to assume a few more were pressed. Whatever the case may be, we have them waiting for you.

BATHS - Obsidian After suffering a year long illness, BATHS has produced a follow-up to critically acclaimed CERULEAN (2010), the mood here is a bit more wry, painful yet upbeat in it's overall execution. Bearing the scars of a year bedridden e. coli illness, the scars of that affair are obviously evident here--as could be expected. Still, a cohesive effort that is also receiving high acclaim from music hacks and fans alike. They are due in town soon, so now is the time to do your himework and get ready for the show. We have tickets, too.

EX-CULT - 7" A unique (thank god) spiunning take on punk rock from the fantastic Memphis, TN oufit, EX-CULT (forced to change their name due to some nyc electro-bozo's calling themselves "Sex Cult", too. Anyway, as you gaze through the 7"'s, do yourself a favor and sample this unique, raging attack on punk rock. Then snag that lp, because it's a killer. Goner Records can be depended upon.
Speaking of Goner, check out the line-up of GONERFEST happening this fall in, of course, Memphis.

MIKAL CRONIN - MCII - Once the leader of LA Garage wildmen (err...kids), Charlie and the Moonhearts (later shortened to MOONHEARTS), Cronin was already showing an obvious talent for songwriting on the bands slower, less chaotic numbers. While he plays mostly everything here on this dynamic follow-up tohis highly touted self-titled solo breakout, he is now signed to Merge Records and gets help from Ty Segall, Charlie Moonheart, Petey Dammit--though Cronin did most of it himself. A beauty of a record, worthy of the hype and an example of musician not staying in one place too long. Surely this will be on many "top of '13" lists. And that is well deserved. Get it.

BL'AST - BLOOD Whatever you think of Dave Grohl, i truly believe the guy has his heart in the right place. Take, for example, his help in unearthing the SST hardcore crossover thrash BL'AST. Blood is not a re-issue, though these recordings are from 1987...recently unearthed by former guitarist Mike Nieder in an old storage locker and cleaned up in some fancy studio by Mr. Grohl, most certainly a fan and an influence on, especially, his drumming. The result is a powerhouse album. Check out the trailer Southern Lord has put together.

URINALS - NEGATIVE CAPABILITY In The Red Records, why but of course. Everything you could possibly want by the great URINALS. Amphetamine Reptile put out a retrospective cd back in 1996, but this covers much more ground on one of America's greatest underground post-punk treasures--relesing their own material back during their lifespan from 1977-1980 (they later became the Happy Flowers). 31 tracks in total!

"Want to hear America’s Wire, only twice as primitive (if that’s
possible), with one quarter the sound quality? Even when they are
covering the Soft Machine’s “Why Are We Sleeping?” they sound like a
three-step primer on minimalism, in scratchy, fast, burping, nutso punk
with clipped vocals. You can see why the Minutemen covered “Ack Ack Ack
Ack,” but it’s the real solid, melodic stuff—such as the Last-inspired
harmonies of the great A-sides “Black Hole” (covered by Leaving Trains -ed) and “Sex,” and “Scholastic
Aptitude,” and the instrumental “Surfing With the Shah” (which
foreshadows the coming of 100 Flowers and later offshoot Trotsky
Icepick)—that makes so many Angelinos remember this goofy but great trio
so fondly. Negative Capability has an unrelenting, authoritative
intelligence and sense of humor." —Jack Rabid

(Jack Rabid is responsible for Big Takeover magazine and has been writing about music since the early 80's covering NYHC act Stimulators with his Stimulators Report.)

Last but not least is the soundtrack for BIG STAR documentary NOTHING CAN HURT ME (recently screened at Squeaky Wheel, though you'll want that dvd).
This is an essential for fans because it features ALL unreleased material...instead of being some greatest hits starter kit for an up and coming hep cat, this is 2 albums worth of alternate takes, unreleased tracks and "movie mixes". what else can be said here: this is an absolute must for fans and n00bs alike. We all know the Big Star story by now (or we should). Great band who didn't hit it big when they should have--the sad tale of many great bands. That is a blessing, because we probably wouldn't give to shits about them if they had been shoved down our throats for the last 30 years! Oh...yeah, we probably would. They influenced multiple generations and are among the holy grail of American Rock and Roll. Not a perfect band by any means...but who is? You need this.

More instock, including restocks on Bill Fay, Scott Walker, Daft Punk, Destruction Unit and a new release from NEKO CASE.

Next post will report on some upcoming shows, the 5th Anniversary and another hefty incoming with new releases from MGMT, ARCADE FIRE, DESTRUCTION UNIT, JACUZZI BOYS and more.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

It's almost embarrassing how this blog has taken a backseat to nonsense, fantasy/video-game/actual baseball obsessions and other wasted time, a bizarre situation that you can see if you open your eyes, many changes at ground zero, blah blah blah.
Since the last post , our fine city of Buffalo, NY has lost so much of it's music scene in the form of legendary and soon-to-be legendary venues (ask a punk), peak bands either disbanding or lasting mere months, etc. It's old news. A tire goes flat, you get a new one and start pumping air back into it. The mainstays keep it worth living. In a few short months we will be 5 years old. Not bad. We owe it all to YOU and we are grateful to make folks happy while doing what we really love. Maybe lost a few along the way but make no mistake--we've gained more. Make no mistake, our heart is in the right place and we aim to support every band, music fan, record label as we have been supported.

Enough of that masqued middle-finger, let's talk about what prompted me to sign in and write this morning after an amazing double feature (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory b/w Pee Wee's Big Adventure).

Perhaps Buffalo's most anticipated full length lp this year came from the adventurous soul punk "pack" that is MALLWALKERS. I've heard this excellent, talented band led by soul fanatic/dj- Handsome Dan Carosa and Jamie Rowitsch on lead vocals and a serious music machine that includes Stephens' Floyd (bass) and Schmitt (guitar), the towering Andy Dennison on the traps (now replaced by the hard hitting but tender-loving Jordan Nittoli) sometimes unfairly tagged as a "party band" and, with an always growing brass section that is for real, the fact is they have songs--really good ones like "Future Shock" "Going Dowtown" for which they've made videos for. It's no doubt these songs will be remembered, along with much of this great album, years from now. But forget about "party band" and any gimmickry the whole visual/art/music that might cross your mind--MALLWALKERS are for real and they've backed up a killer demo tape (released on bass guy Stephen Floyd's DRUG PARTY tape label) with the epic sounding (recorded at Hi-Lo by Matt Smith and touched up by John Angelo) SHAKING THE RUST OFF (Peterwalkee Records). Right now they are leaving their stain across the midwest in immediate support of this album and the release show which kicked the whole thing off was less "fun" and more "powerful". And that's a high compliment. They sounded like a roadworn band just getting back from a blood-drawn roadie. They hadn't left yet, though.

Musically, the core of the band is littered with serious players. Stephen Schmitt delivers some of the most inventive chops around and the rhythm section is nails. The horn section works so well around that core and toss in two charismatic front-people, and you've got MALLWALKERS. Both live and on record they deliver and their appeal has broad potential. They could fascinate people that buy records in malls along with the smelliest punk kid on the block. See/hear for yourself. Of course, these will be in stock until Matto runs out of them.

BARE MUTANTS crept up on me without warning, often busy chasing down some over-hyped buzz band record whilst blindly ordering whatever it is In The Red Records has released lately (because Larry rarely has an off release, if ever!) and turns out it's a personal favorite that features leader, the towering Jered Gummere (the Ponys, Guilty Pleasures, etc)--also a towering songwriter that has influenced more "popular" yet lesser acts throughout his time slashing guitar for the punk rock Guilty Pleasures and the more restrained, underrated PONYS with whom he really broke out as a fantastic songwriter that entranced punks and indie folk alike for it's honest and driving albums and singles scattered over time. BARE MUTANTS is pure bliss if you know where I'm going with this. Might as well get on the bandwagon now because this disc is continued genius songwritng, a pulsing, droning organ soaked affair that brings fuzzy guitar, Gummere's honest vocals/guitar work and willingness to get heavy on an otherwise laid back approach. It works perfectly. Hopefully they pass through town because the odds are they really kick ass live. I've never seen Jared mail in a show even when a local promoter did the last time the PONYS made it here. Don't say we didn't warn you. One of the years best, so far.

OBLIVIANS are allowed to reunite and play shows and make lots of money wherever it comes from. Why? Not because they were the real punk rock of 90s that was overlooked save the garage punk scene and one of the best bands to walk the earth. No, sir and/or madam. It's not because they deserve it, it's because they effortlessly put out a new album of all new songs--their first in over a decade--and it stands up as well as anything they have ever done, as if those years and the amazing music they have made or released (Reigning Sound, Jack O., Goner Records respectively) never happened, though thank christ it did. Don't call it a comeback.

Australia's contributions to rock and roll, proto-punk, first wave punk (the Saints arguably released the first punk single and were calling out fraudulent punks--disregarding punks fashion and cliche's while blasting out '77 punk that made bands bigger in the UK look silly. radio Birdman, the Scientists, Nick Cave & the Birthday Party, X, etc). Right now the Aussie music scene--speareheaded by Eddy Current Suppression Ring that features some of todays best: Total Control, Royal Headache, UV Race, Straightjacket Nation, etc.
In the early 70's Lobby Lloyd was at the forfront of a heavy rock band so nasty, they mistakenly were a proto-punk band. Often called the father of heavy rock in Australia, Lloyd began Coloured Balls in the early 70s, a band that openly influenced AC/DC, Kurt Cobain, and the excellent, if not superior, first wave of punk that happened in Australia. They call it proto-punk but these guys were just playing the kind of rock and roll that made people want to fight one another.

With so much time between posts, it would be a labor to discuss each one. New releases like the latest Mountain Goats, Superchunk, some Bill Fay reissues, new stuff from deathwish, In The Red, reaper, Drag City, Whats Your Rupture?, Sub Pop, Grave Mistake and more represent an impressive influx of critical newly released records, croosh-l re-issues, loads of new used lp's, a few nice, semi-vintage turntables (ready to go with all working parts and priced nicely) for sale are just a few of the reasons to stroll on in. We have taken a break on orders for a few weeks, but expect that to pick up. And if you placed a special order--that will be part of the incoming. This is just a snippet of whats happened and whats to come.

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories While you can find a few older daft Punk lp's in the used bins, this new 3 piece LP is blowing some minds as this long running french duo had a bit of a critical rebirth (though they've been on the go since their inception) in 2013 with this triple album. Its been a tough one to keep in stock.
Burger Records has re-issued one of the last decades great albums--KING TUFF...WAS DEAD. This 2008 monument was an immediate classic record full of hooks, bowie-esque monets and downright catchy numbers that sounded like nobody else. King Tuff has finally returned via SUB POP with a fine slf-titled follow-up, but ...WAS DEAD is a modern classic and is finally back in print and potentially back in your IKEA record rack.

...and about a month later, this post must be wrapped up. we'll tell you all about the new stuff coming in, upcoming events and crap like that--
last week we had a cool show with the return of The Returners a touring band that rattled the birds nest--To Tremble and the moghty Failures Union (who recently announced a new lp out soon on paper & Plastick (vinyl) and a video has appeared (look closely for our fine boutique! and team playa Bill Nehill in a cameo)--

That's HTML. i hope you can see it...it's a great vid and was put together by Smilin' Dave Dluga--awesome fella and member of a plethora of great bands: White Whale, Red Delicious and more.

Keep an eye and ear open for upcoming events: Shows, Our 5 Year Anniversary!, A special zine opening and of course, records, record players, t-shirts, buttons, books, zines and more!

SPIRAL SCRATCH RECORDS.....

...one of Buffalo's only independent record stores focusing on vinyl sales both new and used (although we do sell clothing, books, magaZINES, stickers, buttons, cassettes, vintage stereo gear, a few cd's, and DVDs as well). We specialize in stocking old and new punk, hardcore, metal, garage and indie-rock, soul, jazz, country AND western, $1 beaters/guilty pleasures, record cleaning stuff (not overpriced snake oils) and just about everything else. We are always looking to buy to used clean vinyl , give us a call or stop in the store any time.